Geek Squad P I Computer Repair Uproar in Texas

A Texas law passed in 2007 has remote computer repair shops statewide up in arms. Seemingly pressured by the Private Investigator lobby, lawmakers enacted House Bill 2833, which seems to require computer repair personnel to obtain a Private Investigator license before being allowed to work on customers computers.

The relevant sections of the law in question

"A person acts as an investigations company for the purposes of this chapter if the person:
(1) engages in the business of obtaining or furnishing, or accepts employment to obtain or furnish, information related to:
[...]
(B) the identity, habits, business, occupation, knowledge, efficiency, loyalty, movement, location, affiliations, associations, transactions, acts, reputation, or character of a person;
[...]
(b) For purposes of Subsection (a)(1), obtaining or furnishing information includes information obtained or furnished through the review and analysis of, and the investigation into the content of, remote computer-based data not available to the public."

According to a lawsuit initiated by the newly-established Texas Chapter of the Institute for Justice, the Texas Private Security Board, a state agency, is interpreting this as including simple computer repairs such as malware removal.

The law provides for punishment of up to one year in jail and $4,000 in fines, and up to $10,000 in civil penalties. Additionally, any customer knowingly enlisting the help of an unlicensed computer repair person (that is, without a PI license) is subject to the same punishment.

Matt Miller, Texas Institute for Justice Executive Director and lead attorney on the case, notes that "it makes no sense to require a remote computer repairman with 10 or 20 years of experience to get a degree in criminal justice just to continue working in his occupation. This law will drive up the price of remote computer repair for everyone, and that’s exactly what the private investigations industry wants."

For many small computer repair shops, this law would mean having to shut down their business until they acquire a license. To get a PI license, one needs either a criminal justice degree (with all associated costs) or a three-year apprenticeship under a licensed PI. Neither are realistic options for most small computer repair shops.

While it remains to be seen how this law will be interpreted by the TPSB and the courts, it sure is reopening the discussion about whether or not remote computer repair workers should be certified, and how. Computer repair is one of only a handful of professions that do not need certification in order to operate a business.

Source : enterpriseitplanet.com/networking/news/article.php/3757406

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I will act till I die – Chinyere Wilfred

Chinyere Wilfred has been involved in the Nigerian movie industry known as Nollywood for years. And she would readily tell you she is not ready to quit due to the love and passion she has for acting. Her staying power, she says, is derived from the fact that she has an understanding husband. In this interview with Reporter, Lucy Ezeliora, she explores her unique world in Nollywood, reliving fond memories in her career.

In an interview with DailyIndependent, she talks about here acting career, plus more.


You just released a gospel music video; do you want to become a musician like a few others?

I had the oppourtunity to sing when we shot a movie titled Odum na akwa eke. I did the sound track. It was so lovely and different and it did well in the market. Then, this one came up; it is called Manifestation Time.

Do you hope to continue with music?

Yes, I believe God, depending on my chance out there; the more they accept it, the more I give them something else. I believe in God that people would accept it because already I am receiving calls from people who criticise music. I mean, it is encouraging.

If you weren’t an actress, what career would have appealed to?

I have not even thought of that. I don’t really know, because I have always been an actress, although, I tried being an air hostess. That is one career I have always admired as well. But I went into acting; so it is in the past.

Most of your movies have to do with emotions, so much that you shed tears a lot. How do you make the tears seem to flow naturally?

Well, it comes with a mood and when you are given a character to interprete, when you read the character and begin to feel what is happening to the character, then tears would begin to flow naturally. I don’t think of anything. I don’t have to begin to think of something else that is emotional. I don’t do that at all. I just read my script and I see the character falling in place and when they say “cut,” the tears would stop flowing.

Read full interview here >>> Full interview

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